Siskiyou County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Because the unincorporated county sits largely within CAL FIRE's State Responsibility Area (SRA), property owners must comply with California Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 4291, which requires maintaining defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of a building or structure — but not beyond the property line. The defensible-space standard is tiered: an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of the structure where readily ignitable materials are removed; a 5-to-30-foot zone with more intensive fuel reduction (lean, clean, and green); and a 30-to-100-foot zone with reduced and spaced fuels. PRC 4291 also requires removing dead and dying vegetation, clearing tree limbs within 10 feet of chimney and stovepipe outlets, and keeping roofs clear of leaves and needles. CAL FIRE and its partners conduct defensible-space inspections in the SRA. Beyond state law, Siskiyou County maintains fire-control and fire-hazard regulations in Title 3, Chapter 3 of the County Code (the county fire control and fire hazard regulations), which address maintenance of flammable materials and fire breaks. Given the county's severe wildfire history and Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations, defensible space is treated as a critical, year-round obligation for rural homeowners.